Maribel Martinez

New moms hear it all the time: “Let me know if you need anything.” It comes from a caring place, but when someone is recovering from birth, caring for a newborn, and running on little sleep, figuring out what to ask for can feel like one more task. If you want to help, offer something specific and make it easy for her to say yes. 1. Bring food A meal does not have to be homemade to be helpful. Drop off dinner, bring her favorite coffee, or send a takeout gift card. You could say, “I’d love to...

For some families, pregnancy does not end with bringing a baby home. For others, time with their baby is much shorter than they ever imagined. October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time to remember babies gone too soon and recognize the parents and families who continue to carry their love with them. Pregnancy and infant loss can happen through miscarriage, stillbirth, or the loss of a baby after birth. Every experience is different, and so is the way each family grieves. Some...

September is NICU Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the strength of babies and families who experience a NICU stay and the dedicated professionals who support them along the way. Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) provide specialized care for newborns who may be born prematurely or who may benefit from additional medical care and monitoring after birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 10 of babies born in the U.S. are admitted to the NICU, and the rate his...